This year the challenge was to live off of the land. We would have to scavenge or catch every bit of nourishment for three days and two nights. We both agreed that it would be relatively easy to jig up trout so we also left the artificials at home.
We staked out our camp on the morning of the day after Christmas. The oyster bed upon which she is standing would prove to be a source of both sustenance and bait.
The forecast called for rain on day 2 so we added a canopy to the camp to ride out the weather.
We took our time making camp, then went on a short recon of the island to scout for firewood, but soon our thoughts were on our next meal. The most readily available food source seemed to be the oysters over which we had dragged our boats. These are not the Apalachicola sized beauties you slurp down in restaurants. They are small, twisted, and SHARP!. We ruined two perfectly good folding knives and 20 perfectly good fingers, but it was worth every slice. We shucked a couple dozen into a zip-lock bag and proceeded to fry two of them on the camp stove. If we didn't get sick, we'd fry the rest an hour or so later. It was tough to wait it out. They were the best fried oysters either of us had ever had. Nothing fancy. Just a little olive oil and salt from the ocean. When the big hand hit the twelve, it was time to feast.
Having satisfied the hunger pangs, it was time to gather the firewood we had scouted earlier. As my camping buddies can attest, I am a bit of a pyromaniac when it comes to campfires. Apparently, the gene did not skip a generation. We quickly had the makings of a beauty.
A couple of palm stumps were left on the island by previous campers (who would bring a chainsaw to a preserve?). They will burn if the fire is hot enough.
Day 2 was all business. I set out to look for more firewood (yes, we burned ever piece on the island) while Dani tended camp. I had remembered a cache of cleared pines and oaks from 2 years ago and was pleased to find it still there.
When I returned to camp, I was pleased to find Daniela shucking our next meal
While turning over clumps of oysters, we found a couple dozen mud crabs. Those would be our bait for our upcoming Sheepshead quest. Rigged up and ready to go, we paddled over to some bridge pilings. As we arrived, I realized we had a couple old friends with us. Daniela's Tarpon 140 originally belonged to Cook-N-Fish and this was one of his old winter haunts we used to fish together. The rod and reel I was using was one of JayB's. I like to break it out on special occasions. We got anchored up, lashed together, and Dani took to the first cast. That crab didn't hit the bottom before it got blasted. She pulled him out of the pilings and into the boat like RayH was watching. This would be our first real meal in two days.
She caught two more and I caught one. Out of the four fish, one was short, but three would feed us for dinner, late supper, and breakfast. We left while the bite was still hot and I couldn't have cared less.
A quick filet and the first fish was in the pan
A very satisfying second day. We stayed up to watch this...
...but we didn't stay up much longer
Having food in the cooler, we did a little exploring on day 3 and met a few friends we didn't eat
Took our time breaking camp and paddled back to the launch with thoughts of hamburgers.
I don't know if I would ever do it again, but if I did, I know who I would want to have with me.
UT
Curious as to where you went....